Throughout life we have goals that we wish to achieve. It could be as complicated as getting to the top in our career, buying a house or planning a career break. Or, it could be as simple as buying this week’s lottery ticket or planning a meal for friends.
In order for us to achieve the goal, though, it needs to be a SMART one. SMART stands for:
SPECIFIC: Our goals need to specify clearly what we hope to achieve. A specific goal is one that is clearly defined. I want to be a millionaire by the time I am 50 is specific. Now we know exactly what we’re trying to achieve and when we need to do it by.
MEASUREABLE: We need to be able to measure our achievement. Measurability ensures that we know how close we are to achieving our goal and, more importantly, enables us to know when we’ve achieved it. So, you would have to check your bank statements regularly to ensure that the money in your account was increasing in a way that would make being a millionaire by the time you reach 50 realistic.
ACHIEVABLE: I want to be a millionaire in the next three days. OK, this is a goal and it’s a specific goal. We know what we want to achieve. And it’s measurable too. We know when we need to achieve it by. But is it achievable? Is it possible for me to become a millionaire in the next three days? Starting from nothing, I would need to earn over £333,333 each day for the next three days!
REALISTIC: This element is closely tied to ‘achievable’, although the two are slightly different. You could argue that I could become a millionaire in the next three days, if I won the lottery. However, the odds against doing so are pretty high. So, whilst the goal is technically achievable, is it realistic? This element of SMART asks you to undertake a reality check on your goal. Based upon your current circumstances is your goal realistic? Goals need to stretch us. They need to motivate us. Remember, we need a little stress in order to make us perform. But, if a goal is unrealistic, it will demoralise and frustrate us.
TIMELY: All goals should have a deadline. It’s the motivation that increases our stress levels to get us to perform. But, again, you must be realistic about how fast you can expect to achieve your dream or ambition.
We’ve used the example of becoming a millionaire, but that’s beyond most of us, so let’s look at something more realistic. Imagine that you work in the Accounts Department of a firm and you are Deputy Manager. The Manager likes you and has provided training opportunities, though you still have some professional qualifications to achieve. Despite this he often delegates work to you. He is now 61 and plans to retire at the age of 65. You hope to take over from him as Manager. How SMART is this goal? Why not work it out!
Now think about the goals you really wish to achieve, list them and then look at how you can make them SMARTer. When you’ve done this you should be clearer about what you want from life and when you hope to achieve it.
Circumstances change, so review your personal visions every few years and remember to assess whether they are still SMART. And if you feel you need further help with managing your time and using it more effectively to achieve your goals then why not look at our Effective Time Management course?
Author: Diana Nadin
